Deprived of traditional diploma ceremonies by the coronavirus pandemic, Americans such as Trent Johnson are dreaming up creative ways to celebrate their rites of passage. Johnson, who graduated from medical school, and the first in his family to earn a degree, was promised a home ceremony by his parents. They hung two red tablecloths from the wall, strung up golden balloons spelling out "2020", and turned up the music. The moment, caught on video, went viral on Twitter and has been retweeted nearly half a million times.

AFPTV / TWITTER / TRENT JOHNSON / AFP